Jets cruise past slumping Sabres

Reuters Staff

2 Min Read

Kyle Connor finished with two goals and one assist, and Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Buffalo Sabres 7-4 on Tuesday night in Buffalo, N.Y.

Ehlers scored both of his goals in the second period as the Jets notched three and chased Buffalo starting goalie Robin Lehner. The Jets scored five goals in the first two periods, including four in a row in just over 20 minutes, which gave them a 5-1 lead in the middle period.

Winnipeg (26-11-7) has won three in a row and is 6-0-1 in its past seven games.

Connor scored once apiece in the second and third periods. Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine notched the game’s first goal, a wrist shot from just behind the left circle, on the power play for his 100th career point. Dustin Byfuglien and Joel Armia also scored for the Jets.

Blake Wheeler, Jacob Trouba and Mathieu Perrault each had two assists in the victory.

Jets goalie Steve Mason lost his previous three starts, and this was his first start since Dec. 23. He finished with 30 saves and improved to 3-6-1 on the season.

Connor’s second goal, at 7:08 of the third period, stretched the lead to 6-2. He took a quick diagonal pass from Trouba after a failed Buffalo clearance and scored from in front.

The Sabres didn’t quit though, scoring two straight and cutting the deficit to 6-4 on Jack Eichel’s second goal of the game with 5:07 left.

Armia sealed the Winnipeg victory on a late empty-net goal.

Lehner allowed three goals and was pulled after Ehlers scored 1:26 into the second period. Lehner made 14 saves. Chad Johnson replaced him and played until being pulled for an extra man late. He gave up three goals on 19 shots.

The Sabres (10-24-9) dropped their fifth in a row. They have won just twice in their past 12 games.

Eichel topped Buffalo with two goals and one assist while Ryan O‘Reilly added one goal and two assists. Jason Pominville scored the Sabres’ other goal, and Kyle Okposo handed out three assists.